Bernward Vesper and fellow university student Gudrun Ensslin are dedicated to the power of the written word and between them, start a publishing house. Controversially, their first publication is by Bernward's ostracized father who has connections with the Nazi's. Bernward defends his father's writing but is suspecious himself about is father's past. Gudrun too finds herself suspicious of her own father's role in Hitler's Third Reich and soon they face a backlash for their publications. Soon their lives turn upside down and they find themselves in a struggle in their relationship and also their lives.